About the Program

Each year, grant funding is open to state, local, territorial, and tribal regulatory retail food programs that have enrolled in the Retail Program Standards. Applicants to this program can expect a simple application process, up-front funding when required by the project, and simple reporting requirements.

Additional Funding Oppotunity: CY 2020 CFP Travel Assistance

In addition to the annual subawards offered for CY 2020 through the AFDO-Managed Retail Program Standards Grant Program (subawards were made in December 2019), there is a special funding opportunity that closed to new applications on February 17, 2020. This opportunity is separate from the regular CY 2020 annual funding program.

Funding decisions were made in early March, and notifications have been sent via email. Please contact us if you have questions.

Calendar Year 2020 Award Update

The portal closed to new applications on October 15, 2019, and award announcements were made on December 5, 2019. Approximately $2 million in funding was awarded for CY 2020. This will enable a significant number of awards for jurisdictions in all four project categories – Small Projects, Moderate Projects, Training, and Food Protection Task Force Support Projects.

An email was sent to the points-of-contact on the grant application stating the disposition of each request. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Project Categories

Small Projects up to $3,000, for jurisdictions to complete: a self-assessment of all nine Standards, small projects related to meeting one or more Standards, a verification audit or audits, or custom projects that increase a jurisdiction’s conformance with the Standards;

Moderate Projects, $10,000-$20,000, for more ambitious projects that further conformance with the Retail Program Standards (computer software systems, risk factor studies, development of a written compliance program, training events, etc.);

Training up to $3,000*, for jurisdictional staff to meet the requirements of Standard 2 (Step 1 & 3 Curriculum or CEU maintenance) or to attend FDA Regional Seminars or other training in order to achieve or maintain FDA Standardization; and

Food Protection Task Force Support Projects up to $3,000, to assist jurisdictions in meeting the requirements of Standard 5 Foodborne Illness and Food Defense Preparedness and Response and/or Standard 7 Industry and Community Relations. (For a list of eligible Task Forces that can be supported by Category 4 Subawards, please download this Excel file.)

*The $3,000 limit on Category 3 Training projects does not apply to AK, HI, and Territories if justification for additional costs is provided.

To Apply

Existing Users (who have previously applied for a grant through this program) may use their username and password to log in at the upper right corner of this page, or click here. If you cannot find your username and/or password, please click here to reset it.

New Applicants (who have not applied for or received a grant from this program) should click here to create an account.

Program Overview & Grantee Testimonials

Since the inception of the AFDO-administered Retail Program Standards Grant Program in 2014, more than $8.1 million has been awarded across 1,985 grants. Our grantees have responded with overwhelming high praise of the program, writing everything from “This has been the best experience in getting much equipment and supplies we need to continue our food training;” to “simplest grant application to date.” You may view grantee-submitted videos about their projects and opinions of the program by clicking the map below.

For Current Grantees

To view the status of your current grant award(s), view and print copies of both awarded and declined applications, view and print copies of your official award letter(s), or submit required reports and reimbursement requests, please use the username and password provided during the previous grant application phase to access the grant portal. If you cannot find your username and/or password, please click here to reset it.

Program Reporting Data

FoodSHIELD Resource Center

About the Grant Program

The Retail Program Standards Grant Program is a partnership between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). The program provides funds for the completion of projects and training to enhance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

About FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

About AFDO

The Association of Food and Drug Officials is a regulatory organization that connects food and medical-products safety stakeholders and impacts the regulatory environment by shaping sound, science-based rules, law, regulations, and sharing best practices that protect public health. Or simply put: connect, share, impact, and protect.